Color television registration system



Dec. 9, 1952 v. D. LANDoN COLOR Y@TELEVISION REGISTRATION SYSTEM Filed Nov. 29, 1950 Patented' oec. 9, 1952 UNKTED STATES PATENT OFFECE COLOR TELEVISION REGISTRATION SYSTEM Vernon D. Landon, Princeton, N. J., assigner to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application November 29, 1950, Serial No. 198,213

7 Claims. l

This invention relates to color television systems and particularly to those systems which ernploy a single color kinescope for producing all of the component image colors.

Some color television systems employ kinescopes of the type in which the luminescent screens consist of different phosphors which are excited by electron beam energy to produce the component image colors. The successful use of such kinescopes requires a system for exciting the proper phosphors to correspond with the video signals which modulate the electron beam energy. The present invention is related principally to color television systems in which the color kinescope has a luminescent screen consisting of discrete phosphor strips which are capable respectively of emitting differently colored light when excited by electron beam energy. A representative tube of this type is disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,310,863, granted February 2, 1943 to H. W. Leverenz and titled Luminescent Screen. In such a tube, each of the phosphor strips has a sub-elemental width such that a group of strips has a combined width which is no greater than one of the dimensions of an elemental image area. Each group of phosphor strips includes at least one of each of a plurality of component colors of the image to be reproduced.

Such a kinescope usually is employed with the phosphor strips extending horizontally. It then is necessary that the vertical deflection of the electron beam energy be controlled with a high degree of accuracy. With each horizontal sweep of the beam across the kinescope screen, the phosphor strip which is impinged by the beam energy must be capable of producing light of the color represented by the video signal with which the beam energy is modulated.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved electron beam registration system by which electron beam energy may be maintained in registration with a line phosphor screen of a multi-color kinescope.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved electron beam registration system for maintaining electron beam energy in substantially exact registration with a line phosphor screen of a multi-color kinescope with a minimum of additional kinescope structure and with a relatively simple feed back circuit for beamcontrolling energy.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved electron beam control system in which light from aline phosphor screen of a multi-color kinescope is modulated in a manner indicative of one of the component image colors.

In accordance with the invention, that portion of the electron beam energy which is representative of one of the image colors, is modulated with a component having a predetermined high frequency. Photo-electric devices are employed to receive light of the other two component colors and, so long as this received light does not contain the predetermined high frequency modulation component, the circuits controlled by the photoelectric devices are unresponsive. This is anormal condition which exists when the electron beam energy is in exact registration with the phosphor of the kinescope. Any deviation from this position causes that portion of the beam energy which is modulated with the high frequency component, to excite one of the phosphore by which light is produced for response by the photo-electric devices. Frequency-sensitive circuits associated with these devices detect the high frequency modulation of this light toproduce beam-controlling signals. These signals are emp'loyed to alter the Vertical position of the electron beam energy suiiiciently to re-establish the proper registration with the line phosphor screen of the kinescope.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The single figure of the drawing is a `block diagram of a television signal-receiving and imagereproducing system embodying an illustrative form of the invention.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the subject matter of a copending U. S. application of George C. Sziklai, Serial No. 51,766, led September 29, 1949, now Patent No. 2,587,074 granted February 26, 1952 and titled Color Television Image Reproducing System. In the Sziklai case it is proposed to incorporate a relatively high frequency component with each of the video signals representing the component image colors. The frequencies at which the Video signals are modulated are diiierent for each of the colors. Light corresponding to any particular one of the colors should have a predetermined frequency modulation `when the electron beam energy is properly registered with the linear luminescent elements. Either one of thel other aezrii frequencies with which the light may be modulated represents a mis-registration and is employed to develop a correcting signal. It is to be noted that, in the Sziklai case, the electron beam energy representative of each of the image colors is modulated at a relatively high frequency.

The present system is somewhat simpler in this respect in that only one of the component image colors is modulated at the relatively high frequency.

Having reference now to the drawing, the system embodying the invention includes an antenna I which is coupled to a television signal receiver 2. It Will be understood that the receiver may be entirely conventional. For example, it may consist of one or more carrier Wave amplifiers, a frequency converter and a demodulator or signal detector. In any case, there may be derived from the receiver 2 a video signal Waverepresenting vthe component colors of the image and also synchronizing signals by which to control the deflection of the electron beam energy. Y v

It is assumed forthe purpose of vthis disclosure that theembodiment of the present invention is included in a color television system operating in accordance Withthe dot or elemental multiplex system. Such a system forms the subject matter of a copending U.V S.V applicationof John Evans, SerialNo. 111,384, filed August 20, 1949 `and titled Color Television. vIn such a system, thecolorrcontent of each elemental area ofthe image is transmitted and reproduced in a dot or elemental area sequence.. One way of generatingsuch a combination color video signal is to sample, at a relativelyhigh frequency, each of the three videosignals derived vfrom different color cameras.vv Thehsamples of each color are taken at intervalsurecurring at the (dot repetition rate. The V samples of4 the Adifferent colors are takenat different times during each of the recurring intervals. `The combination video signal Wave `producedbyV such a process, therefore, has diierent l r instantaneous amplitudes representative, respectively, of the different color contents of the image. l ,Y

In order to utilize such a system at the image reproducing point, itis necessary to extract .the samples Yof video signalsfrom the` combination Wave. j In order to accomplish this result,.the color videro signal Wave derived from the receiver 2 is impressed upon a Video signalsampler 3. This device vmay haveany one of several forms. For example, as shown in the copending Evans application referred to, the video signal sampler may consistof three gating devices. The gating devices are normallybiased to kinoperative states. The combination video signal wave is impressed continuously upon all of Vthegating devices. They are rendered operativefor short periods of time in succession underl the control of sampling frequency Waves.l v This frequency, of course, is the same as that at which the original samples` areY taken at ther transmitter to form the combination viderov vsignal Wave.

As a result of the operation of the video signal sampler 3, there yare derived from the output circuits thereof, three trains of video signals, one `repres entative of eachV of the component image'colors. The video signal trains derived from the sampler Aare the form of pulses occurring at the ,sampling frequency. For example, the red, green and blue video signals are represented, respectively, by the Waves 4, 5 and 6. It is assumed, merely for the purpose 4 of the present disclosure, that, at the moment represented, the red video signals have a decreasing amplitude, the green Video signals have a constant amplitude and the blue video signals have an increasing amplitude. It Will be understood that the relative amplitudes of the video signals are dependent upon the light intensities of the image in the different component colors.

The synchronizing signal channel of the image-reproducing apparatus includes the usual synchronizing signal separator 'I coupled to the receiver 2. The horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals are separated from the Video signals and from one another in the usual Way. The synchronizing signals are impressed upon the deflection frequency generating apparatus 8 for the control thereof in a conventional manner. The output of the frequency deflection generators 8 is used to energize the deflection system of the kinescope. s I l y The horizontal synchronizing signals derived from the synchronizing signal separator 'l also are impressed for control purposes Yupon va sampling frequency generator fS. This apparatus functions at a relatively high frequency which, inthe present instance, is "assumedto be approximately 3.6 megacyclesv to produce aY control wave or vvavesvzbyrcwhich'to controlwthe video lsignal sampler 3. "ln viev/ or theforegoing description of thecharacter `of the. video signal Wave and the manner in which it is Ltocbe sampled.Y it is .seen ,than the energy, derived .from the output of Vthesampling frequency lgenerator is essentially three lphase in character. ,The Vvvavesvof the threerphases are u sed to control the respective gating device of the `videoV signal sampler. Essentially, thev sampling, frequency generator S may be a sine Wave oscillator which is capable of stable operation at lhigh -frequencies and which is susceptible ofsynchronous control by `pulses such as lthe horizontal synchronizing signals. One such device is shovvn in the book entitled` Wave v`lormsf published by, McGraw- I-lill Book Company, Inc. and appearing in Figurevl at page v143 ,v

Reverting now,Y to,` a further consideration Yef the component image 4color,-repr esentative video signals represented by the Waves 4, 5 and 6, tl1'ey are impressed vupon respective Vfrequency.s eli'ective circuits, The red andblue, videdsignals, such as representedv bythe waves 4 and t, are impressed respectively upon red and blue video signal filters l ,IVv and I2. `These iilters.nflaybe substantially identicaland aremcapablev of transmitting signalsrhaving frequencies in the range of 0-2 ,megacyclesr The green yideo signals representedby the Wave 5 are impressed upon a green video signal filter I3, This deviceisc'apable of transmittingsig'nals having frequencies in therangeorQ-fl megacycles.

Accordingly, the pulse typere'dandblluevideo signals (I anelli,Y having a ,repetition frequency of approximately 3,6 megacyclesk are 'not reproducedaspulses .inthe outputc'ircuits of the red and blue iiltersv II ja nd I2 respectively. Instead, by reasonof the relativelyllovvfrequency cutoff characteristic of these filters, 'only the envelopes I4 'and I6 of the Waves 4 ,aiifd'B are reproduced. By reason of the relatively Vbroad pass band 0f frequencies capable of being transmittedlbvythe green lter I3, the pulse typejgreenQsignals `5 are reproduced inthe output circuit Withut substantialmodiication'as the pulse type signals I5.

4The vcomponent color-representative video signals, such as indicated bythe waves I 4, I5 and I6,

amines are employed to modulate electron beam energy by which to excite a line phosphor screen of a tri-color kinescope I1. This kinescope is provided with a luminescent screen I8 of the general character as that shown in the Leverenz patent previously referred to. The screen I 8 consists of a multiplicity or groups of horizontal phosphor strips capable, respectively, of emitting light of the diierent component image colors when excited by electron beam energy. For example, one such group of phosphor strips includes red, green and blue light-producing strips I8, 2S and 2| respectively.

The electron beam energy, for exciting the screen I8 of the color kinesco'pe I1, is assumed to be developed by three electron guns indicated at 22, 23 and 2li. t may be considered that the guns 22, 23 and 2a produce electron beams by which to excite the red, green and blue phosphor strips. It will be understood that the arrangement of the electron guns relative to one another may be according to any desired pattern. For example, they may be arranged symmetrically around the longitudinal axis of the kinescope in a manner such as shown in U. S. Patent 2,481,839, granted to Alfred N. Goldsmith on September 13, 1949 and titled Color Television. In the case of the Goldsmith tube, the guns are located substantially at 12o degree angles about the tube axis.

However, it will be understood that the arrangement of the electron guns is not important so long as they direct the electron beam energy toward the proper one of the phosphor strips to produce light of the color represented by the video signals by which the beams are modulated. In the present case, it is seen that the red, green and blue video signals represented at I d, I5 and I5, respectively, are impressed upon the electron guns 22, 23 and 2d. Accordingly, it will be understood that electron beam energy from the gun 22, when properly directed, excites the red phosphor strips such as I8. Similarly, the electron beam energy from the guns 23 and 2li excites the green and blue phosphor strips such as 29 and 2|.

The kinescope I1 also is provided with a delection yoke 25. For the purpose of the present disclosure, it may be considered that this yoke is entirely conventional. It serves to produce an electromagnetic held varying suitably in intensity at the horizontal and vertical scanning rates to cause the electron beam energy from the guns 22, 2S and 24 to scan a conventional television raster at the luminescent screen I8. The yoke 25 is energized by saw-tooth waves at the horizontal and vertical scanning frequencies derived from the deilection frequency generators 8.

t will be understood that the kinescope Il' also is provided with the necessary apparatus (not shown) for accelerating and focusing the electron beam energy. In addition, for the purposes of this disclosure of the present invention, the kinescope I1 also is provided with a pair of vertical deecting plates 28, The purpose of these plates is to supplement the vertical deection field produced by the yoke 25 in a manner to elect exact registration by the electron beam energy and the diierent color-producing phosphor strips of the screen I8. The auxiliary deecting system including the plates 26 is energized under the control of light produced by the screen I 8.

The light, which is used for control of the auxiliary vertical deection system, is the red and blue component image colors. For this purpose, there are provided red and blue-sensitive phototubes 21 and 28. These tubes may be provided With cathodes capable of response only to red and blue light, respectively. Alternatively, the ph'ototubes 21 and 28 may be sensitive to light of any color. In this case, there is interposed between the screen I8 and the phototubes 21 and 28, respectively, red and blue light-passing lters 29 and 3 I. In any case, the arrangement is such that the phototube 21 is effective to develop a voltage representative of the red light derived from the kinescope screen i8. Similarly, the phototube 23 develops a voltage which is representative of the blue light produced by the kinescope screen.

The phototubes 21 and 28 are coupled, respectively, to red and blue band pass amplifiers 32 and 33. These ampliers are frequency-selective over a band ofv frequencies centered substantially at 3.6 megacycles. The outputs of the amplifiers 32 and 33 are coupled, respectively, to red and blue `control signal rectifiers 34 and 35. The rectiers, in turn, are coupled to the auxiliary vertical defiecting plates 25 in phase opposition.

In operation, it is seen that only the light which is produced under the control of the green video signals I5 includes a component having a relatively high characteristic frequency. So long as the electron beam energy control system of the kinescope I 1 is functioning to cause the impingement of the electron beam from the gun 23 upon the green light-producing phosphor strips such as 28, only the green light produced by the screen I8 has this distinctive high frequency modulation. The red and blue light produced under the control of signals, such as represented at It and IB, by the impingement of the electron beams from the guns 22 and 2s upon the blue and green phosphor strips, such as I9 and 2l, does not contain this distinctive high frequency component. Accordingly, the red and blue light, which is impressed upon the phototubes 21 and 28 causes the production of voltages by these tubes which do not contain the high frequency modulation component. passed by the ampliers 32 and 33 because of the frequency discriminating character of these devices. Accordingly, there are no control voltages impressed upon the auxiliary vertical deecting plates 28.

However, should the electron beam energy from the guns 22, 23 and 24 be improperly registered with the phosphor strips of the screen I8, the electron beam from the gun 23 will excite either the red or the blue strips, such as I9 and 2|. Accordingly, either the red or the blue control signal channel Will be rendered operative to produce a voltage for impression upon the deflecting plates 26 in a sense and magnitude to modify the direction of the electron beam energy suitably to effect exact registration with the phosphor strips of the screen I8.

It is seen that the system embodying the present invention provides a relatively simple system of detecting mis-registration between the electron beam energy and the different phosphor light-producing areas of a multi-color kinescope screen. Not only is the mis-registration detection system simplified, but also the control system by which correct registration is effected is somewhat more straightforward than heretofore employed.

It Will be understood that the invention may be used in other modications, many of which will occur to thoseskilled in the art. For example, the high frequency component with which one of the electron. beams is modulated may be These voltages are notl 7 'derived in Ways other ythan that disclosed herein for illustrative purposes. For example, va locally generated carrier Wave may be modulated byone of the video signals asin the copending Sziklai application referred to. l

Also, it is contemplated that the modulation of the intensity of an electron beam in accordance with this high frequency component Vmay be done in ways other than by modulating the video signal at such a frequency. For example, a 'video signal Without high frequency components may be impressed upon the control grid and the high frequency modulation upon the cathode of an electron gun.

Furthermore, it will be understood that 'the invention is not limited to an electrostatic type of auxiliary deflection system for eifecting registration of the electron beam energy with the phosphor strips of a luminescent screen. An electromagnetic system may be employed with substantially equal facility. Moreover, it is contemplated that it will not be necessary, in all cases, to provide a separate auxiliary vertical vdeflection system for beam registration control.

Those skilled in the vart Will understand that,

alternatively, the control signals developed in response to miseregistration of the electron beam energy may be injected into the deflection yoke 25 in combination With the vertical saw-tooth deiiection energy.

The nature of the invention may be ascertained from the foregoing description of an illustrative embodiment thereof. The scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l, In a color television system embodying a color kinescope having a line phosphor screen consisting of elements respectively capable of producing light of a plurality of component image colors when excited by electron beam energy deflected in a manner to scan a raster at vsaid screen, a system for maintaining a predetermined registration of said beam energy with said screen comprising, a source of a plurality fof video signals representative respectively of the component colors of an image, one of 'said video signals having a component rendering it distinct from all other video signals, means for modu'- lating said electron beam energy by saijd video signals in such a manner that, normally, the screeneproduc'ed light of a predetermined image color has a component corresponding to said dis'- tinctive video signal component, and means re'- sponsive to light of a plurality of said compoL nent image colors other than that normally having said distinctive component and also sensitive to said vdistinctive component for controlling the deflection of said electron beam energy suitably to maintain proper registration thereof with said luminescent screen. Y Y

2. In a color television systemvembodying a color kinescope having a line phosphor screen of which the elements are capable respectively of producing light of a plurality of component v image colors vvhen yexcited vb'y electron beam energy, a system for maintaining suitable registration of said beam energy with said screen to produce an image in its true component colors comprising, a source of video signals representative of the component colors of an image, means for segregating the video signals representativeof the individual image colors, means for modifying at least one of said color-representative video signals With a component to render them distinct from all other video signals, means for modulating said electron beam energy under the controlof all of said video signals, means for deflecting said modulated electron beam energy to scan a predetermined pattern at said luminescent yscreen so that, normally, only the screen-produced light representing the image color corresponding to the modified video signals has a distinctive component, and means responsive to light of the component image colors represented by thev unmodified video signals and also sensitive tosaid distinctive component for controlling the deilection of said electron beam energy suitablyto maintain proper registration thereof with said luminescent screen.

3. In a color television system embodying a multi-color kinescope having a line phosphor screen capable of producing light of a plurality of component image colors in different elemental sections of said screen when excited by electron beam energy, a system for maintaining said electron beam energy in proper registration with the elements of said screen to reproduce an image substantially in its natural colors comprising, a source of a plurality of trains of video signal pulses representing respectively said component image colors, said video signal trainshaving relatively high frequency pulse repetition rates, means for modifying said Video signal trains by removing the relatively high frequency components from all but one of said trains, means for modulating said electron beam energy in accordance with said modified video signal trains, means for deflecting said modulated electron beam energy to scan said luminescent screen in such a manner that, normally, light of only a particular one of said component colors is modulated in accordance with said high frequency component, and means responsive to light of said normally unmodulated component image colors and sensitive only to said relatively high frequency component for modifying the deflection of said electron beam energy suitably lto eifect proper registration thereof with said line phosphor screen.

4. In a color television system embodying a color kinescope having a line phosphor screen of which the elements are capable respectively of producing light of a plurality of component image colors when excited by electron beam energy deected in accordance with a predetermined pattern over said screen, a system for maintaining suitable registration of said beam energy with said screen to produce an image in its true component colors comprising, an individual source of an electron beam foreach of said component image colors, means for deiiecting said electron beams in such a manner that, normally, the beams respectively excite phosphor strips capable of producing diiferent ones of said image colors, a source of video signals for each of said component image colors, means coupling said signal sources to said electron beam sources for modulating the intensities of said beams in accordance with the component image colors, means for energizing one of Said electron beam sources to impart a distinctive modulation of one of said beams, whereby a particular one of said image colors has said distinctive component, and means sensitive to said distinctive component and responsive to screen-produced light of at least one of said component image colors not normally having said distinctive component for controlling thedeection of said beams suitably to effect proper registration thereof with said luminescent screen.

5. In a color television system embodying a multi-color kinescope having a luminescent screen formed of a multiplicity of groups of parallel strips of phosphors capable respectively of producing light of a plurality of component image colors when excited-by electron beam energy, a system for maintaining said electron beam energy directed toward proper ones of said phosphor strips comprising, means for deecting said beam energy to scan a raster at said luminescent screen, a source of a plurality of trains of video signals representing respectively said component image colors, each of said video signal trains having a relatively high frequency component, frequency selective means for modifying said video signal trains by removing said high frequency component from all but one of said trains, means for modulating said electron beam energy with said modified video signal trains so that, normally, only that screen-produced light of a particular image color has a distinctive component produced by said high frequency video signal component, means responsive to screen-produced light of any of said component image colors except said particular color and also responsive to said high frequency component to develop signal eifects indicative of any mis-direction of said electron beam energy, and means for control by said signal effects to correct the direction of said electron beam energy relative to said phosphor strips.

6. In a color television system embodying a multi-color kinescope having a luminescent screen formed of a multiplicity of groups of horizontal strips of phosphors capable respectively of producing light of a plurality of component image colors when excited by electron beam energy, a system for maintaing said electron beam energy directed toward proper ones of said phosphor strips comprising, a source of a plurality of trains of video signals representing respectively said component image colo-rs, means for deflecting said beam energy to scan a raster at said luminescent screen, means for modulating said electron beam energy in accordance with said video signal trains and also With a distinctive high frequency component in a manner that, normally, screen-produced light of a particular image color has said distinctive component, a plurality of control signal-generating means equal in number to one less than said plurality of component image colors and responsive respectively to screen-produced light of all except said particular colors,

means coupled to said signal-generating means and responsive only to signals of said distinctive frequency to produce energy representative of any mis-direction of said electron beam energy relative to said phosphor strips, and means coupled to said frequency responsive energy-producing means for deflecting said beam energy vertically to correct its direction relative to said phosphor strips.

7. In a color television system embodying a tricolor kinescope having a luminescent screen formed of a multiplicity of groups of three horizontal strips of phosphors capable respectively of producing light of three component image colors When excited by electron beam energy, a system for main-taining said electron beam energy drected toward proper ones of said phosphor strips comprising, a source of three trains of video signais representing respectively said component image colors, means for providing one of said video signal trains representing a particular image color with a component having a predetermined high frequency, means for modulating said electron beam energy in accordance with said video signal trains, a system for deecting said beam energy to scan a raster at said luminescent screen so that, normally, only screen-produced light of said particular color has said predetermined high frequency modulation component, photosensitive signal-generating means responsive to screenproduced light of the other two of said component image colors, detecting means coupled to said photosensitive means and responsive only to signals of said predetermined frequency to develop beam-control energy representative of any mis-direction of said electron beam energy relative to said phosphor strips, and auxiliary vertical beam-deflecting means connected for control by said beam-control energy for correcting the direction of said electron beam energy,

VERNON D. LANDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,481,839 Goldsmith Sept. 13, 1949 2,490,812 Huffman Dec. 13, 1949 2,530,431 Huffman Nov. 21, 1950 

